Dear Friends,

This week we have been visited by Grace - yes, the storm, but yes too a greater Grace that propelled the bad weather away from us in less than a day. Those who remember hurricane Ivan can see how we were this time given great good fortune. Nevertheless we can also rightly be reminded that the forces behind the Creation are not to be trifled with. In our Scripture readings over the week we were reminded of the swift dispatch of a man called Uzzah who had the gall to actually put out his hand and touch the holy Ark of God as it was being transported to Zion under King David’s leadership with great worship, fanfare and dancing. Today we may be inclined to think of such a thing as unfair and even impossible to ascribe to God in modern times, but we should remember that our Lord Jesus Himself depicted His Father with traits of anger in some of His parables and other teachings. 

While we should not imagine the offended holiness of God in terms of the petulancy of much of human anger we really could not imagine that the choices of modernity, to which Cayman had hardly now be said to be foreign, might not induce a great and holy anger in a wholly righteous and gracious Creator.

So yes, bearing this in mind, we have indeed been visited by Grace.

The Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity is

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Even in times of great trouble and just condemnation the inclination of our wholly righteous Creator God is “always more ready to hear than we are to pray” and inclined and accustomed to “give more than either we desire or deserve”. This is everlastingly established by the gift to the world of our Saviour Jesus and His Sacrifice for us, who mediates that gift to us all on the basis of His merits and not ours. For this reason we need not hesitate to pray in all circumstances that He may "pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask”.

By this, Grace prevails, even in Afghanistan, among the crowds huddled together in the huge transport planes, waiting to be air-llfted from their country, perhaps leaving all and never to return.

By this, Grace prevails, even in damaged and chaotic Haiti, where Samaritan’s Purse teams have arrived to set up their portable hospital, operating with the help of the financial resources provided by the people of God all over the world.

By this, Grace prevails, even over the covid-19 scares and misjudgments that have cost so much.

By this, Grace prevails, even over the current and multiform delusions of our worldly Powers.

For directions about the services this Sunday the 22nd August the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, please see the website www.TruthWithLanguage.com  . 

In reliance upon the mighty power of the Triune God to keep us faithful to and in all truth, I am in your service 

Bishop Nicholas